The planets rarely align exactly, but Venus was only 6 degrees south of the sun at that time — for all intents and purposes, totally lost in the sun’s glare. For comparison, the width of your fist held at arm's length takes up about 10 degrees of the night sky.

Saturn is a different story. On Oct. 1, it passed almost behind the sun, in what is called a "superior conjunction." It was only 2 degrees north of the sun on that date.

How to see Venus and Saturn

To find Venus and Saturn, go out about half an hour before sunrise any day this week and look a bit south of east.

If your skies are clear, the most obvious thing you will see will be brilliant Venus low on the horizon. Through binoculars or a small telescope, Venus will appear as a tiny slender crescent, since it is still almost completely back-lit by the sun just below the horizon.

If Saturn looks a bit brighter than when you saw it last, you’re not mistaken. Saturn’s rings, which have been almost edge-on to the Earth for the last two years, are now starting to tilt toward the Earth, and this has a striking effect on the planet's brightness to the naked eye.

Saturn's rings through telescopes

If you have access to a small telescope, take a look at Saturn. Its magnificent rings have now opened up so that it looks its old self.

Skywatchers should also look for the moons nearby Saturn. Titan, Saturn's largest moon, is visible in even the smallest telescope, and four more moons can be seen with larger amateur telescopes: Rhea, Dione, Tethys and Iapetus. Use a planetarium program on your computer to identify them.

Both Spica and Saturn are of first-magnitude brightness, but noticeably dimmer than the star Arcturus in the east, and much dimmer than Venus.

Venus and Saturn will grace our morning sky for most of the winter months, but this week is your first chance to welcome them back.